IES86917B2 - A renewable electricity generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a renewable electricity generating device. In particular the invention provides a way to generate electricity by converting the kinetic energy of water pressure in to electrical energy by means of piezoelectric material. The insulated piezoelectric material is suspended in a water column by means of it being attached to a trestle or base at one end and held upright by floatation devices attached to the other end. The trestle rests on the ocean, sea, river or lake bottom. The insulated piezoelectric membranes can then be impacted by water wave pressure, generating electricity. The electricity generated can be drawn off from these membranes by electrical connections. Many insulated piezoelectric membranes on several trestles could be electrically connected together to form a piezoelectric wave farm. The advantage of this innovative invention is that piezoelectric wave farms could generate useful amounts of electricity from water wave pressure.

Description

Title A renewable electricity generating device Field of the Invention This invention details a renewable electricity generating device. In particular the invention relates to a means of converting the kinetic energy of water pressure into electricity by means of piezoelectric material.

Background to the Invention The invention relates to a renewable electricity generating device which generates electricity by the action of water pressure on piezoelectric material. In this specification the terms water pressure and wave power, as in piezoelectric wave power, are intended to cover any water based pressure such as ocean, sea, lake or river water waves and whether from a natural flow, artificial flow, piped, channelled, sluiced or otherwise directed body of water.

The current main forms of renewable electricity generation are solar power, wind power and hydroelectric power plants.

Solar power is derived via the action of photons on photo voltaic cells and has an efficiency of conversion which is less than optimal. The action of solar power is also dependent on weather conditions such as cloud cover and snow loading. These limitations on the operation of the solar panel place restrictions on its use.

Wind power is derived from the action of air flow on wind turbines and involves large structures, usually located on high ground, to maximise exposure to air flow. Wind turbines located offshore in shallow water are known as offshore wind farms. Limitations with wind power include conditionality on air flow and wind speed. Limitations also include criteria for geographical locations where air flow availability, consistency and strength meet or exceed the minimal requirements for use. Like solar power, wind power is also limited by weather dependency.

Existing hydroelectric power is usually in the form of tidal turbines or hydroelectric plants involving river water pressure driving a turbine. Tidal turbines utilise existing offshore currents to drive a turbine to generate electrical energy, while riverine hydroelectric plants use a dam or sluice to concentrate river water pressure to drive a turbine. Dams are used in many cases to store sufficient water to drive a turbine. Dams control the amount of water available, therefore ensuring that the electricity generation is more reliable and less dependent on environmental conditions such a rainfall. While the results can be more consistent than solar or wind power, these types of hydroelectric power generation are limited to the geography of existing suitable waterways.

These weather dependent and inefficient sources of renewable electricity generation are limited. The renewable electricity generation industry is in need of an additional form of renewable electricity generation which reduces or avoids these limitations. Accordingly there exists a need for an alternative source of renewable energy production which would be less weather dependent and capable of being more geographically widespread.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is provided, as set out in the appended claims, a renewable electricity generation device comprising at least one floatation device (1); at least one insulated piezoelectric material component (3) with at least one insulated electrical component (5) attached, wherein preferably, the insulated piezoelectric material component (3) is an insulated piezoelectric membrane; at least one trestle (4) with feet (6) placed on its underside; means for attachment (2) of: the floatation device (1) to the piezoelectric material component (3), and the piezoelectric material component (3) to the trestle (4); wherein the floatation device (1) has enough buoyancy to hold the insulated piezoelectric material component (3) upright in the water column; wherein the trestle (4) is used to anchor the electricity generating device to the ocean, sea, lake or river bed (7); wherein the insulated piezoelectric material component (3) is used to convert the kinetic energy of the pressure from a water source into electricity and wherein the electricity is drawn off from the insulated piezoelectric material component and directed through the insulated electrical component (5) to the electrical grid (10).

Trestle or base and floatation device A trestle or base is situated on the underwater floor and one end of the insulated piezoelectric membrane is attached to the trestle. The trestle therefore acts as a base to anchor the insulated piezoelectric membrane to the underwater floor. The other end of the insulated piezoelectric material is attached to the floatation device. The floatation device should have sufficient buoyancy to hold the insulated piezoelectric membrane upright in the water column. This allows the water wave pressure to press against the insulated piezoelectric membrane causing electricity to be generated. The electricity generated is then drawn off from the membrane and directed through insulated electrical components to provide a source of usable electrical energy.

In one embodiment of the invention, standing, insulated piezoelectric membranes attached to a trestle would be submerged into an offshore location near the coast. The membranes would be attached to the trestle at one end and would be standing in the water column due to a flotation device(s) attached to the other end. The action of the ocean waves would press the membranes causing them to flex and in doing so, generate an amount of electricity. The electricity would be drawn off via the insulated electrical components and directed onshore to the national grid.

Preferably each trestle would have several membranes attached to it to maximise efficiency of operation.

Preferably the trestle would be large enough to attach many insulated piezoelectric membranes to provide an efficiency of scale, but be of a small enough dimension sufficient to practicably lower into the sea or ocean floor from the deck of a ship.

Ideally the trestle and insulated piezoelectric material would have sufficient electrical connections to draw off usable electricity from the piezoelectric material and convey it to the national grid.

In another embodiment of the invention, the trestle would be resting on feet which would minimise its contact with the sea, ocean, lake or river floor. This would minimise the disruption to benthic aquatic life in the vicinity of the piezoelectric wave farm.

Ideally the operation of several, multiple membrane trestles at one site would constitute a piezoelectric wave farm in the same way that several wind turbines located offshore would constitute an offshore wind farm.

In another embodiment of the invention, the insulated piezoelectric material could be directly attached to the ocean, sea, lake or river bed. This would remove the need for a trestle or base.

In another embodiment of the invention, the insulated piezoelectric material could be directly attached to the floatation device. This would remove the need for separate attachments. If this is combined with the insulated materials direct attachment to the ocean, sea, lake or river bed, it would remove the need for separate attachments altogether.

Insulated piezoelectric material Ideally the type of piezoelectric material used would be of the most cost effective type to generate the most electricity for the minimum material, manufacture and deployment costs.

Ideally the piezoelectric membranes would be made of an insulated piezoelectric material which would not fracture or degrade under the persistent action of the water pressure. The insulated piezoelectric material would therefore last a considerable length of time and be more cost effective due to its longevity.

Preferably the piezoelectric material would be in the form of a membrane, as a membrane is an efficient shape to maximise the useful surface area of the piezoelectric material from the action of the incident wave, but other forms could also be used such as a stalk or frond.

In another embodiment of the invention, the insulation on the piezoelectric material prevents the leakage of electricity into the surrounding water.

In another embodiment of the invention, the insulation protects the piezoelectric material and prevents degradation of the membrane by abrasion, erosion or other degrading action.

In another embodiment of the invention, the insulation could be of a type that provides buoyancy sufficient enough to maintain the piezoelectric material in an upright orientation.

This would remove the need for a floatation device.

In another embodiment of the invention, the insulated piezoelectric material or membrane would not need separate insulation due to the inherent properties of the piezoelectric material preventing the electricity from leaving the system. This would remove the need for separate insulation altogether.

In another embodiment of the invention, the need for insulation of the piezoelectric material would not be needed due to the generated electricity being drawn off before it leaves the system into the surrounding water.

Location and Operation In another embodiment of the invention the renewable electricity generating device should be situated at a sufficient depth in the water column which would not provide a hazard to shipping.

Storms can be destructive elements in sea shore constructions. Ideally the depth of the renewable electricity generating device in the water column would have to be sufficient enough to avoid excessive damage due to the storm event.

This would be in line with the existing necessity to locate the trestle deep enough to avoid a shipping hazard.

In another embodiment of the invention the renewable electricity generating device would not be seen from the surface of the ocean or sea, thus providing the onlooker with an uninterrupted and unspoiled view. This is advantageous as one of the persistent criticisms of existing offshore wind farms is that they spoil the view and are thus seen as an eyesore.

The piezoelectric wave farm should not be subject to this relative disadvantage due to its operation being submerged.

An advantage of the piezoelectric wave power, renewable energy generating device is that its geographical area of operation includes any offshore region located on the sea or ocean floor. The device can also be operational in lake or riverine locations or other waterways.

Wind and sunlight can be more weather dependent than the action of waves. This can give a piezoelectric wave farm an advantage in consistency of electrical generation over solar power and wind power.

Piezoelectric wave power can be advantageous in countries where the levels of sunlight for solar panels and wind for wind turbines is inconsistent or otherwise insufficient for such methods of energy production to be competitive in the energy market.

Piezoelectric wave power would be ideally suited for nations with access to a shoreline whereby an abundance of wave power would be available to harness.

Electricity generation by piezoelectric wave power gives the electricity generation entity an additional choice by which electricity can be generated and therefore should encourage competition in the energy market.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:— Figure 1 is a side view of a single membrane embodiment according to the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a side view of a multi membrane embodiment according to the invention; Figure 3 is a 3D isometric view of an single trestle embodiment according to the invention; Figure 4 illustrates a topographical view of a multi trestle, piezoelectric wave farm embodiment according to the invention; Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring now to the drawings and initially figure 1, there is illustrating a single membrane embodiment of the invention. The illustration comprises a floatation device 1 attached to an insulated piezoelectric membrane 3 by means of attachments 2. The other end of the insulated piezoelectric membrane 3 is attached to a trestle 4 by means of attachments 2.

The trestle 4 rests on feet 6 which minimises its contact with the ocean, sea, lake or river bed 7. membrane 3 to draw off electricity for use. This configuration allows the membrane to Insulated electrical components 5 are attached to the insulated piezoelectric stand upright in the water column so that water pressure from waves can impact the insulated piezoelectric membrane and generate usefiil amounts of electricity.

Referring to figure 2, figure 2 shows the ocean, sea, lake or river bed 7 supporting feet 6 of a trestle 4, to which is attached a number of insulated piezoelectric membranes 3. One end of each piezoelectric membrane 3 is attached to the trestle 4 via attachments 2. The other ends of each membrane are attached to floatation devices 1 via attachments 2. Insulated electrical components 5 are attached to each of the insulated piezoelectric membranes 3.

This embodiment of the invention shows how multiple membranes can be attached to a single trestle or base to create a multi membrane trestle. Figure 2 could be construed as a repeated iteration of figure 1 on a single trestle.

Referring to figure 3, figure 3 illustrates a 3D isometric view of a single trestle 4 resting on feet 6. The trestle 4 has several insulated piezoelectric membranes 3 attached to it via attachments 2. In this embodiment of the invention there is a long floatation device 1 attached via several attachments 2 to each of the insulated piezoelectric membranes 3. An important aspect of the invention is the exposure of the insulated piezoelectric material or membrane to the water pressure wave. Therefore in this embodiment of the invention the 3D isometric View shows several long membranes which would maximise the area of the membranes for this purpose.

Referring to figure 4, figure 4 illustrates a topographical representation of the piezoelectric wave farm according to the invention. The piezoelectric wave farm consists of several trestles, each with several membranes 9 (as illustrated in figures 2 and 3) connected together by insulated electrical connections 5, situated in the water colurrm below the shoreline 8 and with the insulated electrical connections 5 emerging above the shoreline 8 to connect to the electrical grid 10.

Claims (2)

Claims

1. A renewable electricity generating device comprising at least one floatation device (1); at least one insulated piezoelectric material component (3) with at least one insulated electrical component (5) attached, wherein preferably, the insulated piezoelectric material component (3) is an insulated piezoelectric membrane; at least one trestle (4) with feet (6) placed on its underside; means for attachment (2) of: the floatation device (1) to the piezoelectric material component (3), and the piezoelectric material component (3) to the trestle (4); wherein the floatation device (1) has enough buoyancy to hold the insulated piezoelectric material component (3) upright in the water column; wherein the trestle (4) is used to anchor the electricity generating device to the ocean, sea, lake or river bed (7); wherein the insulated piezoelectric material component (3) is used to convert the kinetic energy of the pressure from a water source into electricity and wherein the electricity is drawn off from the insulated piezoelectric material component and directed through the insulated electrical component (5) to the electrical grid (10).

2. A renewable electricity generating device as claimed in claim 1 wherein multiple insulated piezoelectric material components (3), with floatation device (1) attached, are joined to a single trestle (4). DJ 10 A renewable electricity generating device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the floatation device (1) is of a long cylinder fashion requiring several means of attachment (2) to the insulated piezoelectric material component (3), the insulated piezoelectric material component (3) being of dimension requiring several means of attachment (2) to the single trestle (4). A renewable electricity generating device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein: optionally, the insulated piezoelectric material component (3) is fixedly mounted to the floatation device (1), negating the need for the means of attachment (2) from the floatation device (1) to the piezoelectric material component (3); optionally, the insulated piezoelectric material component (3) is fixedly attached to the ocean, sea, lake or river bed (7) negating the need for a trestle (4) and the means of attachment from the piezoelectric material component (3) to the trestle (4); optionally, the insulation of the insulated piezoelectric material component (3) is of a type that provides buoyancy sufficient to maintain the piezoelectric material component (3) in an upright orientation, negating the need for a floatation device (1). A wave farm incorporating a series of renewable electricity generating devices as claimed in any preceding claim joined together by insulated electrical components (5) and connected to the electrical grid (10).